Stories from Saturday, December 23, 2023

An attempt to bring Christmas shoppers to Downtown Poplar Bluff by throwing turkeys from the third floor of the county courthouse was deemed successful, while in later years the Elks made sure no child was turned away without a gift during an afternoon with Santa...

As Missouri lawmakers face state budget proposals in the 2024 legislative session, they might want to consider what their staff had reported about the financial impact of tax cuts passed in prior years. In 2023, the legislature approved tax reductions for government employee pensions and Social Security benefits...

As I ponder this magical holiday season, memories of isolation during the peak of the pandemic - and changes in protocol in so many arenas in the aftermath - haunt me. Masked faces with wary, weary eyes met me everywhere. Muffled words obstructed craved communication. I sensed a sad and scary season...

There’s truly nothing like Christmas. It’s a special time of the year where we gather around with family and loved ones and take part in our favorite traditions, whether it’s singing along to beautiful hymns in church, making a cookie recipe passed down through generations, or sitting down at the dinner table for a delicious feast. But the most important thing is to remember why we celebrate this joyous day each year: the birth of Jesus Christ...